ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – No. 2 (ITA Collegiate Division II rankings) Flagler College fell to No. 3 Valdosta State University 4-3 in the NCAA Division II National Men's Tennis Tournament championship match on a hot and humid Saturday morning at Sanlando Park.
The Saints are the first team in the NCAA Division II era to reach a national title match or game.
"It was a tough way to end what has been a great year," said head coach
Jonas Piibor, "but I give full credit to Valdosta State. They played really well. For this team to finish third at the ITA Indoor Championship, winning the Peach Belt Conference regular and post-season titles, and playing in the national title match is special. (Assistant Coach) Brian Washburn and I believe that if you work hard and smart, you can achieve better, and the team bought into that mindset and have been resilient all year."
Flagler, the overall No. 1 seed, ended its season at 22-3 overall. Valdosta State won its 16
th match in a row and won its third national title. The Blazers ended the season with a 26-3 record. Valdosta State avenged an earlier loss to Flagler (4-3 at the ITA National Indoor Championship, Feb. 16).
The Saints were down 3-1 and needed to win the last four singles matches to win the title. No. 19-ranked
Jacopo Denitto bested No. 26 Luca Mack 7-5 and 6-4 and then
Ilian Borlee topped Rodrigo Carvalho 6-3, 4-6, and 6-1 at No. 4 singles to square the match at 3-all. That was Borlee's 18
th consecutive victory. The match came down to No. 6 singles. Christian Wedel took the first set 6-3, but
Aly El Rafie took the second set 6-4. Wedel outlasted El Rafie in third, winning 6-3. Earlier,
Philipp Lemken won his 15
th match in a row, 6-1 and 6-3, over Jerome Iaconi.
"Our seniors,
Diego Amilibia,
Max Berner, Philipp, and Jacopo have all been here since my first day and to see them graduate was very special," added Piibor. "They will move on, but they will always be Flagler Saints in their hearts."
#3 Valdosta State 4, #2 Flagler 3
5/25/24 at Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Sanlando Park)
Singles competition
1. #19
Jacopo Denitto (FLG) def. #26 Luca Mack (VSU) 7-5, 6-4
2. #23 Boruch Skierkier (VSU) def. #10
Baptiste Mercier (FLG) 6-2, 6-3
3. #7 Takeshi Taco (VSU) def.
Simon Malis (FLG) 6-0, 6-4
4.
Ilian Borlee (FLG) def. Rodrigo Carvalho (VSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
5.
Philipp Lemken (FLG) def. Jerome Iaconi (VSU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Christian Wedel (VSU) def.
Aly El Rafie (FLG) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #37
Philipp Lemken/
Simon Malis (FLG) vs. #6 Rodrigo Carvalho/Luca Mack (VSU) 3-5, unfinished
2. Takeshi Taco/Xaveam Van Wijk (VSU) def. #29
Ilian Borlee/
Baptiste Mercier (FLG) 6-2
3. #42 Jan Skerbatis/Boruch Skierkier (VSU) def.
Makary Adamek/
Jacopo Denitto (FLG) 6-2
Match Notes
Valdosta State 26-3; National ranking #3
Flagler 22-3; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,5,2,1,4,6)
NCAA Division II National Tournament - Final
#3 Valdosta State vs. #1 Flagler
T-3:30 A-150
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